Grandmother's Hair

Description

One plant that always thrills me is the Scarlet Paintbrush. I’ve usually found it on bouldery beaches or limestone outcrops. The patches I’ve come across are rarely larger than a plant or two. This beauty was amongst the rocks at a cove in Macgregor Point Provincial Park in Ontario. Scarlet Paintbrushes are interesting beings. They are considered “hemiparasitic” which means they can survive on their own but do better if their roots can tap into another plant’s to take some of their nutrients. The red part is actually a bract or modified leaf, not a flower. The plant’s flower is green and yellow. It’s small and inconspicuous at the base of the bracts. The bract colour varies depending on the place where the plants grow. If there are many pollinators around they glow scarlet. If scarce, they are often a light yellow. It seems from research on the species that the red coloured plants reproduces better where pollinating insects and hummingbirds are abundant while the yellow coloured ones do better when they are not. Such relationships are good examples of how coevolution works in nature. Ecologically speaking, Scarlet Paintbrushes are uncommon plants. In Canada they are found in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In several states and in the province of Saskatchewan they are threatened or locally extinct. When I’ve seen them in Bruce County they have been more common - though there is usually only a plant or two for every few acres of beach. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are excellent at finding the spread out plants and delivering pollen between them. In Anishenaabemowin the name for the plant translates to “Grandmother’s Hair.” This is likely a reference to the white hairs that cover the plant’s stem and leaves. It was used to treat women’s diseases. Pretty special plant.

Taken By

Doug Gordon

Taken On

June 4, 2025

Tagged

scarlet paintbrush beach rocks stones plant flower spring geranium grass field grassland nature outdoors green plants petal flowering_plant wildflower pedicel

Assignments

Flora and Fungi